Advertisement

Sport Wales says it wants to make sure that Welsh schoolchildren have a "positive" experience of schools sport so that they "continue being physically active throughout their adult lives".

We have a responsibility to ensure that our children have a positive and enduring experience of school sport, one which builds their confidence and ability, so they continue being physically active throughout their adult lives.

This survey will arm us with the data we need to ensure we understand how to make that a reality.

At a time when public finances are tight we need to be confident that taxpayers money is being invested into the areas that will make the biggest impact.

Not only will the survey results give us confidence that we're making informed decisions based on clear facts, they can shape Sport Wales' collaborative approach to improving public health in partnership with the education sector.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson talks to David Wood about the legacy of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

"I think the biggest part of the legacy was participation, and changing young people's minds as to what they could do" she says.

"Not just in sport, but in terms of art and culture. That was always going to be the hardest thing. The Games were amazing, and you're bound to get a spike in participation in the two weeks afterwards".

"It's how you maintain that, not just for six months but for a year and several years down the line".

We were clear in the lead up to the Games that we wanted Welsh success in terms of performance and medals to be mirrored by grassroots participation.

Work began with partners to ensure that any child inspired by our Olympians and Paralympians had every opportunity to get involved, and encouragingly we're now seeing the fruits of that labour.

– Professor Laura McAllister

Swimming, gymnastics, hockey and cycling are just a few examples of where we're already witnessing the London 2012 legacy in Wales and let's be clear - there is no coincidence in the increase in participants here.

Returning home with a 7-strong medal haul, Wales’ Olympians are celebrating their most successful Games for over 100 years.

But encouragingly for the future of Welsh sport, the medal haul isn’t the only sign of success.

We’ve been clear about our need to be unashamedly ambitious in our quest for success and, together with governing bodies of sport, have set a target of between 6 &10 medals across both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Games.

With the 7 medals already won by Welsh athletes, we are well on track to achieving that target.

London 2012 was an Olympic Games that put the future of Welsh sport in the spotlight.

Not only are we achieving in the here and now, with medals from some of our most experienced and respected athletes, such as Geraint Thomas and Tom James, but it gave us a glimpse of what’s to come.